Door operating mechanism



Oct. 24, 1933. M. w. TALEN DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 15, 19503 Sheets-Sheet l,

HA5 Firromwsrs.

Oct. 24, 1933. v w EN 1,932,198

noon OPERATING uncmmxsu Filed Dec. 15. 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 5 M3flrroeugns.

slamming of the door.

Patented Oct. 24, 1933 UNITED STATES ATENT oFFmE Security Fire DoorCompany, St. Louis, M0,, a

corporation of Missouri Application December 15, 1930 Serial No. 502,364

12 Claim.

This invention relates to door operating mechanisms, and moreparticularly to motor actuated operating mechanisms for sliding elevatordoors.

The invention has for its principal object to 5 provide means forreducing the speed of the ele vator door near the end of its travel andfor stopping it at the end of its travel, thereby preventing damage tothe door and the parts of the elevator associated therewith, andeliminating noise due to Other objects are simplicity and cheapness ofconstruction, fewness of parts, and compactness of design.

The invention consists in utilizing the door operating motor forchecking the speed of the door near the end of its opening and closingmovements and for stopping it at the end of such movements. It alsoconsists in the combination reversing and limit switches for controllingthe door operating motor. It also consists in arranging said switches soas to be operated by the movement of the door; and it also consists inthe construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification andwherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. l is an interior side elevation of the door side of an elevatorshaft, showing a door on one of the floors equipped with a motoractuated operating mechanism embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the door side of the shaft on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary interior side view of the door side ofthe shaft, showing the bracket for supporting the motor and gearing forgriving the door sprocket wheel on one side of the oor,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the sprocket chain layout fordriving the door spocket wheels, 7 a

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-section through the combined reversing andlimit switches for checking the speed of the door near the end of itsopening movement and for stopping it at the end of such movement.

Fig. '7 is a side view of said switch, parts of the switch box beingshown broken away,

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-section on the line 88 in Fig. 6,

' Fig. 9 is a horizontal cross-section on the line 9-9 in Fig. 6,

Fig. 10 is a vertical cross-section on the line 10-10 in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 11 is a wiring diagram showing the location of the combinedreversing and limit switches in the electric circuit for controlling thedoor operating motor. a

Referring to the accompanying drawings, my

invention is shown in connection with an ordinary freight elevatorcomprising a shaft A having a door opening B at each floor that isclosed by means of a door preferably of the vertical-sliding,center-parting, counterbalanced type. As shown in the drawings, saiddoor comprises upper and lower sliding sections C and D, respectively,that are provided along each vertical edge with an angle bar side framemember 1 slidably arranged in angle bar door guides 2 that are rigidlysecured to each other and to the wall of the elevator shaft A. The upperand lower door sections are hung on sprocket chains 3 that pass overwheels, preferably sprocket wheels 4 and 4a, located within the elevatorshaft A adjacent to the upper corners of the upper door section C. Oneend of each door chain 3 is suitably connected in the adjacent lowercorner of the upper door section C, and the other end of said chain isconnected to the upper end of an upright rod 5, whose lower end issecured to the outer end of an arm 6 that projects horizontally from theadjacent upper corner of said lower door section. By this arrangement,one door section serves to balance the other door section, and the twosections are adapted for simultaneous movement towards and away fromeach other. The elevator construction thus far described is well knownand is considered unnecessary to illustrate it in detail.

The door on'each floor is opened and closed preferably by means of aseparate door operating mechanism comprising an electric motor,preferably a reversible torque motor E, which can be stalied under loadfor several minutes without injury. The motor E is mounted on a bracket7 that is rigidly secured to the door guides 2 adjacent to the doorsupporting sprocket wheel 4. The electric motor E is disposed with itsarmature shaft 8 horizontal; and a pinion 9 is fixed to the outer end ofsaid armature shaft and meshes with a gear 10 fixed to one end of ahorizontal shaft 11, whose opposite end has a pinion 12 fixed theretowhich drives a spur gear 13 fixed to the door supporting sprocket wheel4. The gearing just described is enclosed within asuitable lubricantcontaining housing 14 mounted on the motor supporting bracket 7. Thedoor supporting sprocket wheel 4 is fixed to a shaft 15 that isjournaled in suitable antifriction bearings provided therefor in thegear housing 14 and in a bracket is formed integral with the motorsupporting bracket 7.

The shaft 15 of the door supporting sprocket wheel 4 extends through themotor supporting bracket 7 into a horizontal channel 16, which is formedin the interior surface of the front wall of the elevator shaft A justabove the top of the door opening B, and has a sprocket wheel 17 fixedthereto which drivesan endless sprocket chain 18. The sprocket chain 18extends across the elevator shaft to the opposite side of the dooropening 13 where it passes around an idler sprocket wheel 19 mounted ina bracket 20 secured to the adjacent side wall of said shaft adjacent tothe 5 door supporting sprocket wheel 40. The door supporting sprocketwheel 4a is mounted on a horizontal shaft 21 supportedv in a bracket 22fixed to the adjacent door guide 2 and has a sprocket wheel 23 securedthereto which is located below and is driven by the lower stretch of theendless sprocket chain 18.

Mounted on one of the door guides at one side of the door opening 13 aretwo combined reversing and limit switches F that are located in thecircuit for. controlling the motor E and are operated by a cam plate 24,which is fastened to the door arm 6 of said lower door section D and isprovided with inclined upper and lower end portions connected by avertical middle portion. The two combination switches F are of similarconstruction and are located one just above the door sill and the otheropposite the door cam 24 when the door is closed. Each switch 1''comprises a box or casing 25, in which is journaled a horizontal shaft26 having an arm 27 which projects into the path of the door cam 24 andcarries a roller 28 at its free outer end adapted to be engaged by saiddoor cam. Fastened to the shaft 26 is an upright lever'29, whose upperarm carries an insulated contact bar 30. which forms one element of alimit switch. The other element of the limit switch comprises twovertically spaced contact posts 31 that project horizontally from thewall of the switch box 25. A suitable coil spring 32 is interposedbetween the wall of the switch box and the lower arm of the lever 29 andnormally tends to force said lever in a direction that will maintain thecontact bar 30 in contact with the two contact posts 31.

Another upright lever 33 is pivotally mounted in the switch box 25, asat 34, for vertically swinging movement alongside oi the lever 29. Thelower arm of the lever 33 is provided with an insulated contact bar 35,which forms one element of a reversing switch. The other element of thereversing switch comprises two vertically spaced contact posts 36 thatproject horizontally from the switch box 25. Interposed between theupper arm of the lever 33 and the adjacent wall of the switch box 25 isa coil spring 37 that normally tends to forcesaid lever in a directionthat will cause its contact plate to engage the contact posts 38.

The upper arm of the lever 29 has a lateral extension 291: whichoverlaps the upper arm of the lever 33; and the coil spring 32 is madeconsiderably stronger than the coil spring 37 and thus forces thelateral extension of the lever 29 against the upper arm of the lever 33with a force sufficient to hold the contact plate 35 of the reversingswitch out of contact with the two fixed contact posts 36 thereof. Thelower arm of the lever 33 is also provided with a lateral extension 33::that overlaps the upper arm of the lever 29' and is provided with ascrew 38 adapted to bear sgalnstthelever29. Thisscrewmaybeadjusted tovary the space between the end of said screw and the lever 29. y

When the door is olosomuio limit switch in the lower switch box isheld-closed and the reversing switch in said switch box is held open bythe action of thespring 32; and both the limit switch and the reversingswitch in the upper switch box are held open by the pressure ofthe doorcam 24 76 ontheoperatingarmflonsaidupperswitchbox,

means When the door is open the pressure on the operating arm 27 of theupper switch box is released and the spring 32 operates to close theupper limit switch and open the upper reversing switch; and the door cam24 is in engagement with the operating arm 27 of the lowerswitch box andthus serves to overcome the action of the spring 32 and open both thelimit switch and the reversing switch.

When power is applied to the motor E to open the door, the lower doorsection I) will move downwardly until the inclined lower end of the doorcam 24 engages the roller 28 on the operating arm 27 of the lowercombination switch F and thus forces said arm to swing outwardly. Thisswinging movement of the arm 28 rotates the rock shaft 26 and the lever29 thereon in a direction that will cause the contact bar of the limitswitch to be disengaged from the fixed contacts 31 thereof. At the sametime, the lateral extension 29a of the lever 29 will swing away from theupper arm of the second rock lever 33 and permit the compression spring37 to swing the lever 33 in a direction that will cause the contact bar35 of the reversing switch to contact with the fixed contacts 36 andthus close said switch and reverse the motor. This reversing of themotor will check the opening movement of the door sections until therock lever 29 strikes the screw 38 carried by the lateral extension 33aof the rock lever 33 and thus rocks the latter in a direction that willdisengage the contact bar of the reversing switch from the fixedcontacts 36 thereof, thereby opening said reversing switch and stoppingthe motor. The length of time that the reversing switch remains closedmay be varied by adjusting the screw 38 to increase or decrease thespace between said screw and the rock lever 29. When the door is closed,the upper combination switch I" will be operated by the door cam 24 inthe same manner 118 as the lower combination switch.

The two door actuated combination switches P are located in athree-phase alternating current circuit E for controlling the reversibletorque door-operating motor, which circuit is shown diam grammaticallyin Fig. -11 of the accompanying drawings. The control circuit for themotor I! is supplied with current through power lines 39,

40 and 41 and is provided with the usual threecontact forward andreverse electromagnetic I switches 42 and 43 that are operated by theusual push-button switches 42a and 43a. When it is desired to open theelevator door, the operator closes the push switch 42a, which completesa circuit through the power lines 39 and 41, line 44, switch I!) 420,line 45, elements 30, 31 of the normally closed limit switch of thelower combination switch P, line 48, magnetic coil of magnetic switch42, and line 47. whereby the current flowing through said magnetic coilwill connect the three contacts of III said magnetic switch with thethree power linu and allow the current to pass to the motor through thethree lines 48 and open the door.

When it is desired to close the door, the operator closes thepush-button switch 43a to close the I) circuit between the power lines39 and 41, line 44, switch 43a, line 49, elements 30, 31 of thenormallyclosed upper limit switch of the upper combinationswitch F, line50, magnetic coil of magnetic switch 43 and line 47, whereby the cur-148 rent flowing through the magnetic coil will connect the threecontacts of said magnetic switch with the three power lines to makecontact and allow the current topass tothe motorinareverse directiontin-p sh the three lines 48.

the elements 30, 31, the elements 35, 36 of the lower reversing switchwill be engaged, thereby completing the circuit between the power lines39 and 41 through lines 44 and 51, elements 35, 36 of lower reversingswitch, lines 52 and 50,

magnetic coil of reversing magnetic switch 43, and line 47, the currentflowing through said magnetic coil causing the three contact points ofthe magnetic switch 43 to make contact and allow the current to pass tothe motor in a reverse direc tion over the iines 48. The current flowingthrough the magnetic switch 43 reverses the motor which acts as a braketo check the speed of the door in its downward travel until the circuitis opened at the lower reversing switch by the outward movement of arm27.

It will be noted that three different actions take place when the arm2'! of the combination switch is swung outwardly by the door cam 24. Thefirst action is that of stopping the motor and is brought about when thelimit switch is opened. The second action is that of reversing themotor, which action is brought about when the reversing switch isclosed. The third action is that of stopping the motor, which action isbrought about by the opening of the said reversing switch just beforethe door has reached its fully opened position.

When the door nears the end of its closing movement, the cam 24 thereonengages the arm 2'1 oi the upper combination switch F, therebydisengaging the elements 30, 31 of the upper limit switch and openingthe circuit thereof. This action causes the magnetic coil of theelectromagnetic reversing switch 43 to become de-energized, thus openingthe circuit through said magnetic switch and cutting out the motor. Asthe upper limit switch is being opened, it will permit the contactelements 35, 36 oi! the upper reversingswitch to close, thereby making acomplete circuit between power lines 39 and 41 through the line 51, saidupper reversing switch, lines 53 and 46, magnetic coil of the switch 42and line 4'1. The current flowing through the magnetic coil of theswitch 42 will connect the three contacts thereof with the power linesand allow the ourrent to flow to the motor over the lines 48 and thusrotate it in a direction that will retard the upward travel of the door.This flow oi the current to the motor continues until the arm 2'l on theupper combination switch moves outward far enough to open the upperreversing switch and stops the motor.

Obviously, the hereinbeiore described door controlling arrangementadmits oi considerable modiiication without departing irom'theinvention;

Thereiore, I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction andlocation oi the combination switches, door operating mechanism and motorcontrol circuit shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. In a door operating mechanism, a door, an electric motor operativelyconnected to said door to open and close the same, an electric circuit 0containing said motor and means for controlling the direction ofrotation of said motor in one direction to open the door and in theopposite direction to close said door, and two combined reversing andlimit switches in said circuit operable respectively near the end of theopening movement and near the end of the closing movement of said doorfor momentarily reversing and then cutting off said motor current.

2. In a door operating mechanism, a door, an electric motor operativelyconnected to said door to open and close the same, an electric circuitcontaining said motor and means for controlling the direction ofrotation of said motor in one direction to open the door and in theopposite direction to close said door, and means in said circuit formomentarily reversing and then cutting off the motor current during theopening and closing movements, respectively, of said door, said meanscomprising two combined reversing and limit switches operablerespectively by said door as it approaches the end of its openingmovement and as it approaches the-end of its closing movement.

3. In a door operating mechanism, a door, an electric motor operativelyconnected to said door ,to open and close the same, an electric circuitcontaining said motor and means for controlling the direction ofrotation oi said motor in one direction to open the door and in theopposite direction to close said door, a combined reversing and limitswitch in said circuit, and means on said door operable as the doornears the end or its opening movement to open the limit switch, closethe reversing switch, and open the reversing switch in the order named.

4.v In a door operating mechanism, a door, an electric motor operativelyconnected to said door to open and close the same, an electric circuitcontaining said motor and means for controlling the direction ofrotation 01 said motor in one direction to open the door and in'theopposite direction to close said door, a combined reversing and limitswitch in said circuit, and means on said door operable as the doornears the end of switch in the order named.

5. In a door operating mechanism, a door, an electric motor operativelyconnected to said door to open'and close the same, an electric circuitcontaining said motor and means for controlling the direction ofrotation of said motor in one direction to open the door and in theopposite direction to close said door, two combined reversing and limitswitches in said circuit operable respectively to momentarily reverseand then cut oil. the motor current during the opening movement andduring the closing movement or said door, and a single means on the doorfor operating both reversing and limit switches, one as the doorapproaches the end of its opening movement and the other as the doorapproaches the end of its closing movement.

6. In a door operating mechanism, a door, an electric motor operativelyconnected to said door to open and close the same, an electric circuitcontaining said motor and means for controlling reverse flow of motorcurrent independently of the speed of the motor.

"I. In a door operating mechanism, a door, an electric motor operativelyconnected to said door to open and close the same, an electric circuitcontaining said motor and means for controlling the direction ofrotation of said motor in one direction to open the door and in theopposite direction to close said door, and means in said circuitoperated by the movement of said door for reversing the motor currentand then cutting ofl said current when the door nears the end oi itsopening and closing movements respectively, said means comprising twocombined reversing and limit switches operable one by the door as itapproaches the end of its opening movement and the other by the door asit approaches its closing movement.

8. In a door operating mechanism, a door, an-

electric motor operatively connected to said door to open and close thesame, an electric circuit containing said motor and means forcontrollingthe direction of rotation 01' saidmotor in one direction to open thedoor and in the opposite direction to close said door, and means in saidcircuit operable by the movement of said door for reversing the motorcurrent and then cutting oi! said current as the door nears the end ofits opening and closing movements, said means comprising combinedreversing and limit switches located adjacent to the ends of the openingand closing movements respectively of said door, an operating arm foropening the limit switch and closing fi e reversing switch of eachcombination switch in the order named, and means carried by said doorfor actuating the operating arm 0! one of said combined switches ;whenthe door nears the end of its opening movement and for operating theother of said combined switches when the door nears its closingmovement.

9. In a door actuating mechanism, a door, an electric motor operativelyconnected to said door for opening and closing the same, an electriccircuit containing said motor and means for controlling the direction ofrotation of said motor to open and close said door, two combinedreversing and limit switches in said circuit, said switches beinglocated adjacent to the opposite ends oi the line of travel of the door,and a cam on said door for actuating "said combination switches near theend or the opening and closing movements respectively of said door toopen the limit switch, close the reversing switch, and open thereversing switch in the order named and means for automatically closingthe limit switch of each combination switch when the door cam isdisengaged therefrom.

10. In a door operating mechanism, a door, an electric motor operativelyconnected to said door to open and close the same, an electric circuitcontaining said motor and means for controlling the direction ofrotation of said motor in one direction to open the door and in theopposite direction to cloa said door, means in said circuit forreversing the motor current'near the end of the opening and closingmovements respectively of said door, saidreversing means being operableby the movement of said door, and means for varying the duration of suchreverse flow oi the motor current independently of the speed of themotor.

11. In a door operating mechanism. a door, an

electric motor operatively connected to said door to open and close thesame, an electric circuit containing said motor and means forcontrolling the direction of rotation of said motor in one direction toopen the door and in the other direction to close said door, andcombined reversing and limit switches in said circuit operable near theend of the opening and closing movements respectively of said door forreversing and then cutting oil said motor current, the reversing switchand the limit switch of each combination switch each comprising acontact plate cooperating with a pair of fixed contacts, a leversupporting the contact plate of the limit switch, an operating arm forthe limit switch lever, a lever supporting the contact plate of thereversing switch, said reversing switch lever having an extensiondisposed in the path of movement of said limit switch lever, said limitswitch lever having an extension disposed in the path of movement oi.said reversing switch lever, a spring tending to move said reversingswitch lever in a direction that will cause the contact plate thereon tocontact with the fixed contacts therefor, a stronger spring operating toswing said limit switch lever in a direction that will cause the contactplate thereon to .contact with the fixed posts therefor and force theextension 01' said limit switch lever against said reversing switchlever with a force suflicient to hold said reversing switch lever in aposition with its contact plate disengaged from the fixed contact poststherefor, and a cam on said door adapted near the end 01 the opening andclosing movements thereof to actuate the operating arm of said limitswitch lever to open the limit switch, and to close and then open thereversing switch.

12. In a door operating mechanism, a door, an electric motor operativelyconnected to said door to open and close the same, an electric circuitcontaining said motor and means for controlling the direction ofrotation of said motor in one direction to open the door and in theother direction to close said door, and combined reversing and limitswitches in said circuit operable near the end of the opening andclosing movements respectively of said door for reversing and thencutting ofl. said motor current, the reversing switch and the limitswitch of each combination switch each comprising a contact platecooperating with a pair of fixed contacts, a lever supporting thecontact plate or the limit switch, an operating arm for the limitswitchlever, a lever supporting the contact plate of the reversing switch,said reversing switch lever having an extension disposed in the path ofmovement oi said limit switch lever, a screw mounted on said extensionin abutting relation to said limit switch lever, said limit switch leverhaving an extension disposed in the path of movement of said reversingswitch lever, a spring tending to move said reversing switch lever in adirection that will cause the contact plate thereon to contact with thefixed contacts therefor, a stronger spring operating to swing said limitswitch lever in a direction that will cause the contact plate thereon tocontact with the fixed posts therefor and force the extension of saidlin it switch lever against said reversing switch lever with a forcesuflicient to hold said reversing switch lever in a position with itscontact plate disengaged from the fixed contact posts therefor, and acam on said door adapted near the end of the opening and closingmovements thereof to actuate the operating arm of said limit switchlever to open the limit switch, and to close and then open the reversingswitch. I

MAURITZ W. TALEN.

